Sales plummeted! Bought for tens of thousands, but no one wants it for 5000? It was once extremely popular.

Recently, there have been media reports that the sales of pianos, once a popular musical instrument, have plummeted dramatically and the prices have significantly dropped.What has happened to the once popular instrument?The decline in sales began in 2019, and now only accounts for 15% of the peak period.According to industry insiders, piano sales have been declining since 2019 and now only account for 15% of the peak period. Although it hasn't reached the point where pianos that used to be sold for 50,000-60,000 yuan are now being sold for a few thousand yuan, 2023 is indeed a harsh winter for the piano industry.The reason behind this is that learning the piano is usually seen as a relatively long-term plan for the future. However, in the past couple of years, both income and future expectations have been affected.Another reason is a concentrated burst of frustration with the "chicken-baby" and "studying frenzy". In the past six months, discussions among teachers and parents have leaned towards giving up studying intensively since it doesn't yield results. Instead, they prefer to go on trips and engage in activities that can bring happiness to both adults and children.According to industry professionals involved in the sales of second-hand pianos, the steep decline in piano sales did not start this year. The downward trend began as early as 2019. "Currently, maintaining sales at 30% of the previous level is already considered outstanding. The average level is around 15%. The most unfortunate sellers have only 10% of their previous sales, and some have even had to close their business."According to data from the China Musical Instrument Association, in the first three quarters of 2023, the operating income of 232 enterprises in the industry, with a scale above a certain threshold, decreased by 21.28% year-on-year, and profits decreased by 43.35%. The overall profit margin of the entire industry is now only 6.59%.According to statistics from the "Music Store Management Report," it will take at least 3-5 years for the piano industry to consume the production capacity of the past ten years.The training market is declining overall, and teachers are struggling to find students.According to reports, Chen Kai, the person in charge of a Yamaha piano store in Zhuzhou, explained that there are fewer and fewer children learning the piano, mainly because learning the piano is no longer seen as a way to earn extra points for admission to schools or as a channel for art admissions.A few years ago, many schools had quotas for art admissions, so students with lower grades chose the art route for admission. However, due to policy changes, this channel has been canceled, causing many parents to give up. Only a few parents who have clear plans for their children's future persist in piano lessons.The overall decline in piano training is also related to the diversification of parental choices. While many beginners still prefer piano lessons, as they grow older, they may start to explore other musical instruments.At a piano store in Hangzhou that primarily sells used pianos and also provides piano education, there are currently around five regular teachers, but they have less than ten new students in total. The person in charge, Teacher Yang, believes that the piano is indeed losing its popularity. While there is still a preference for piano lessons in early childhood education, as children grow older, they may switch to learning other instruments such as the guitar, flute, drums, and saxophone.In the eastern region of China, Ms. Li, who is engaged in music education, said that she now has only half the number of students compared to the peak period. "After the policy changes, I lost a lot of students who used to come on weekdays. I can hardly attract any new students."Some piano teachers also revealed that in the past, parents had clear goals for their children's piano lessons, and they would persist until they achieved those goals, such as passing the tenth grade piano exam. But now, most parents give up halfway, and some can't even persist for six months.On second-hand platforms like Xianyu, many sellers are selling pianos because their children have given up learning. Some sellers are even offering imported pianos that are 95% new at half the original price, along with free piano benches, metronomes, and music books.The cold spell in the industry allows for a more thoughtful consideration of the impact of aesthetic education on future education.However, despite the decline in piano sales and the training market, the number of participants in piano competitions has not significantly decreased.Insiders have revealed that in fact, influential piano competitions in the international arena, such as the Shenzhen International Piano Concerto Competition, have seen an increase in the number of participants.The Shenzhen International Piano Concerto Competition is a globally influential and prestigious event with a significant impact in the industry. Although the number of participants is not large, the high level of performance, as participants have to perform with symphony orchestras, showcases the growing influence of Chinese pianists in the international arena.Industry insiders pointed out that the piano market facing a cold winter may not necessarily be a bad thing because music education should not be market-driven. It would be beneficial if everyone could consider the impact of aesthetic education on future education more calmly.